Clumber Spaniel Club

25/10/2026

Clumber Clips.
Goes to printers for winter edition on 20th November.
You don't want to miss out...
Photos, club show results and a
Photos.
Working results
Clumber walks
Any other news and happenings.

😊 Sarah

21/10/2026

Clumber Spaniel Breed Notes 21/10/26

Last week on Wednesday 14th, Malvern saw the hosting of Gundog Society of Wales. Colette Perkins judged the breed without CCs and awarded Sh Ch Vanitonia Something Extra owned by Adam Gardner and Dee Carter-Hunt. Reserve best dog was Tweedsmuir Manhattan owned by Claire and Jonathan Blackburn. Best Bitch and Best Puppy was Lee Cox’s Vanitonia Society Girl and Reserve Best Bitch Rachel Wareham’s Suelynda Dream On. The Best Special Beginner was Elskerwoo Solar Flare owned by Mr and Mrs Morrison. On to the groups and under Jacqui Ward, the Vanitonia team were awarded Group 4 with Something Extra and Reserve Best Puppy In Show with Society Girl. Well done.

On Sunday 18th October at Gravesend and Medway Towns open show last weekend, Clumbers also had a good run. There were no breed classes and the AVNSC judge was Laurie Hunt who awarded BOB to Linda Thorogood’s Anbrook Don’t Stop Me Now At Harrifield ShCEx and Best Puppy to Lauren and Sue Wilson’s Vanitonia Strike A Pose At Winhampton. Under the same judge Don’t Stop Me Now was then Gundog Group 2 and Strike A Pose struck a PG1. She then went on to win Reserve Best Puppy In Show under Gavin Robertson. Congratulations all.

Our Dogs Top Clumber Spaniel has been announced for the three quarter stage and Sh Ch Vanitonia Something Extra is the lead for our breed with 31 points. Congratulations to owners Adam and Dee and breeder Lee Cox.

Alison Hawkes, CSC member has written to advise that the WSS Club of South Wales are short of entries for their Minority Breeds Field Trial on 14th November at Tregynon. Any Spaniel excluding Cocker and English Springer can enter; £55 for non-members, the judges are Mr B Faley (A panel) and Mr J Robertson (B Panel). Entries close 31st October, please download a form from www.wsscsw.co.uk

I caught up with Paul Whitehouse who continues to do a great job coordinating the promotion of Clumbers at public events. Paul coordinated Edition Dogs Live, held at Stoneleigh Park, last weekend and would like to thank the Blackburn family with Ernie and Alfie; Maggie Loughran with Ned; Helen & Andy James with Mallow and Claire Pickering with George.
Paul also thanks Tori Parkes for helping on the stand without dogs on the last afternoon. Well done team and best of luck to Paul and his volunteers with planning Crufts 2027 now.

A few changes were announced for Crufts today and over the last few days. This includes a slightly earlier 3pm departure time for exhibitors, and vet checks for all Best Of Breeds before they are judged by a Group Judge who will have had a DBS check. Your breed judge won’t have been required to have one, but neither judge will actually be providing a regulated activity such as providing a professional service that involves being alone with vulnerable people or privy to their sensitive information. I have a DBS for my own job on regular update service, but I have no idea why this is needed for a Group judge at Crufts, especially when it's not needed at any other shows. There is also introduction of a declaration for those who have animal abuse convictions, but this is voluntary so even more baffling.

News in general is likely to start to dip off over the next few months, so these Notes will become fortnightly. Do please still send me things for inclusion and they will get added.

James Taylor
[email protected]

For those who need the email subscription link is
https://clumberbreednotes.eo.page/

The Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of South Wales was founded in 1980. It's the only club in Wales specifically dedicated to this wonderful breed

19/10/2026

Results for the CSC Championship show, 04/10/26.

Judge Mr. David HOWARTH ( MOORBROOK/ARKVIEW )

DOG CC Gardner & Carter- Hunt, Mr A & Mrs Sh Ch Vanitona Something Extra
RES. DOG CC Blackburn Mrs C & Mr J Sh. Ch Suelynda Let Me Be The One JW
BITCH CC Mr LAS C Cox Vanitonia Society Girl
RES BITCH CC Wilson,Mrs SA & Miss LL M SH.CH Anbrook Fair Maid of Kent By Winhampton

BEST IN SHOW Mr L.A.S COX Vanitonia Society Girl
BEST OPPOSITE S*X. Gardner & Carter- Hunt, Mr A & Mrs Sh Ch Vanitona Something Extra
BEST PUPPY Mr L.A.S COX Vanitonia Society Girl
BEST VETERAN Wilson,Mrs SA & Miss LL M SH.CH Anbrook Fair Maid of Kent By Winhampton

THANKS to Eunice for the results.

15/10/2026

Breed Notes 14.10.26

Last week at South Wales, just two Clumbers present, both owned by Jonathan and Clare Blackburn. Sh Ch Suelynda Let Me Be The One JW was best dog and Best of Breed, with Tweedsmuir Manhattan Reserve Best Dog.

On Sunday 11th October, at Tay Valley Gundog Association’s 50th Anniversary Open Show; Jacquelyn & Stuart Nicolson and Aislyn Risk’s Knockhalon Spooktacular of Taranstigh won BOB under Jane Baker followed by Group 3 under Anne Orzel.

Gundog Society of Wales is happening today, so reports on this next week.

The Clumber Spaniel Club of America have launched their tentative schedule for their Specialty week. Various events, shows and competitions take place every day starting Saturday 13th March 2027 (the weekend after Crufts) through all week until Friday 19th. The venue this time is the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Asheville, North Carolina.

The CSCA’s Clumber Closet also has plenty of Christmas Clumber wares available to order. I think you’d still be ok for air mail if you ordered now.

Here in the UK Clumberfest have announced their next dates. The main event takes place Saturday 31st July and Sunday 1st August 2027, with camping available from Monday 24th July. The event takes place at Fairfields caravan storage in Wiltshire. For enquiries please see the Clumberfest webpage and social media. For those new to the term "Clumberfest" it is a social gathering of Clumber owners, some camping and some staying in local accommodation and visiting daily. Various activities are arranged including an infamous quiz, I believe not for the faint hearted. Funds are raised through camping fees and a grand raffle, and this year the organisers were able to donate a surplus £500 to the Canine Genetics group at Cambridge University.

There is also a 2027 Clumberfest calendar available. I’m not sure how many are left so if you want one, best to contact the Clumberfest organiser Peter Sheppard as soon as you're able.

The Working Clumber Spaniel Society has announced their November training dates. The Broadway Group will meet Sunday 15th November with Gary Barstow as the contact to book your place. Their Northern Group will meet Sunday 29th November at Cawood near Selby with Julian Daley as the booking contact. The announcement says that the South West group sessions are currently paused for the shooting season and will resume in March 2027.

James Taylor
[email protected]

For those who need the email subscription link is

Clumber Spaniel weekly news based in the UK

08/10/2026

Gundog Society of Wales have announced entries and Clumbers have nine dogs and five bi***es for judge Colette Perkins without CCs. A total of 14 and these have made 17 entries. Clumbers are in Ring 4 in Wye Hall’s Bay 2 and follow 42 Hungarian Vizsla and 15 GWP. This is Wednesday 14th October at Three Counties Showground.

Our Dogs continue to run their points leagues and Top Breeder as of last week is Lee Cox, Vanitonia. With a total of 34 points, a look at the league table and this places Lee in the top 10 of the gundog group (I think 7th). Congratulations Lee. I’m not sure exactly how the points are calculated but a look at the results this year so far and CCs and RCCs have been awarded to four different Vanitonia males and three different Vanitonia females, with many group placings to complement.

A great achievement for any breeder and speaking of Vanitionia success this brings me onto the Clumber Spaniel Club Championship Show this weekend. David Howarth presided and chose Lee’s Sh Ch Vanitonia Something Extra as DCC. The RDCC was Jonathan and Claire Blackburn’s Sh Ch Suelynda Let Me Be The One JW. Lee did the double with Vanitonia Society Girl taking BCC and also Best Puppy. Sh Ch Anbrook Fair Maid of Kent By Winhampton owned by Sue and Lauren Wilson took home RBCC and Best Veteran. If you subscribed to the email I wrongly announced that BIS was the dog but I have been informed that BIS actually went to the bitch and best puppy, Vanitonia Society Girl. Congratulations!

I checked with David Howarth who confirmed that he was not asked to award a RBIS as is usual practice but David does tell me, “There seemed to be a good atmosphere. Plenty of applause for the winners. Stewards were Gina Bowers and Kirsha Leonard who did a great job. There were several spectators from other breeds as well as some undergoing mentoring sessions. Weather was perfect for showing and the ring was a good size so that movement could be properly assessed. It was a very good show.”

Great to hear David and I understand there was a successful raffle and kitchen takings. Bridgette Bodle judged the Special Awards in the lunch break and her three class winners were Lee Cox’s Vanitonia Society Girl 1st in Junior dog or bitch; Jason and Chrissie Sainsbury’s Elskerwoo Silver Lining 1st in Postgrad dog or bitch and the Blackburn’s Sh Ch Suelynda Let Me Be The One JW first in Open dog or bitch.

Eunice King (CSC Secretary) wrote to me on the evening of the show to let me know Sue Williams had a nasty fall and missed the show and has been sent some flowers by the Club. We all send you our best Sue.

News from Breed Education Coordinator Tony Taylor and a Clumber Spaniel Breed Appreciation Day (BAD) and multiple choice exam have been arranged for an online Zoom session on Wednesday 25th November 2026 at 7pm. The breed speaker will be Lee Cox and the cost is £10 for the breed talk only or £15 to include the exam. Contact details for Tony on the flyer. The last time Lee gave this session it was organised by Tony’s daughter Hannah, it was an enormous success with I believe about 100 people for the talk. I was one of the invigilators for the exam but I’m unable to offer this this time as it clashes with our monthly match night for the society I’m secretary for, so I wish all involved a successful and enjoyable evening, I’m sure it will be.

I also have news from Graham Constable that the Duchy Working Gundog Club’s Gundog Working Certificate assessment day was unfortunately cancelled due to lack of entries. The day is planned for reschedule in the new year so please contact the Duchy club if you are interested.

James Taylor
[email protected]

For those who need the email subscription link is

Clumber Spaniel weekly news based in the UK

06/10/2026

From Sarah Sevastopulo
Clumber clips need to be printed ready for LKA, therefore last day for receiving articles will be 20th November. Thanks and look forward to getting your bits and pieces 😀

03/10/2026

01/10/2026

Kitchen prices. 04/10/26.
Bacon rolls £2.00
Lasagne/ Ploughmans £3.50
Drinks £1.00
Cakes £1.50.

01/10/2026

Pre orders for Sunday.
Rachel will close the pre ordering at 5p.m today as she has to get supplies.
So do it now LASAGNE OR PLOUGHMAN'S.
I,m told there will be sweet treats available as well.

01/10/2026

Clumber Spaniel Breed Notes 30/9/26

I start this week with two pieces of sad news. Dawn Jones, who showed Clumbers with partner Chris Vickery has sadly passed away. Dawn and Chris mainly showed in the Malvern area at the Three Counties Showground, although also won best puppy dog at Crufts 2025 under Linda Thorogood with Maursett Merwing. Condolences to partner Chris. I will include funeral details when known if I receive them.

Secondly, David Hirst of the Redmarsh Clumber Spaniels has also sadly passed away. I understand that David was a Yorkshireman with a great sense of humour who bred and exhibited Clumbers with wife Gail, again many condolences. I’m told David’s funeral will be a private family arrangement as far as we know.

On some brighter news, a very happy 80th Birthday to Clumberite Gordon Sutherland (Eilandon) who has been celebrating with wife Eileen in the Greek islands.

South Wales Kennel Association numbers have been announced with 3 dogs making 3 entries. There are no bi***es entered. Clumbers are in ring 23 which starts at 9.30am on Saturday 10th October. No entries for AVNSC which is scheduled first, but 23 imported breed register and 3 Lagotto are before the Clumber judging by Penny Gowland.

I didn’t use to announce the Our Dogs Top Awards when writing for the paper as it was only repeating news from the previous issue. Now that these notes are unattached, I will include this news as I understand the competitions are still being published online. So as of 25th September the current leader of the Top Brood Bitch is Maursett Morveen of Vanitonia, bred by Tony and Maureen Taylor and owned by Lee Cox.

No Clumbers entered over the water at Belfast as I announced last week. But there were two large Open shows this last weekend in the form of Stafford & District Canine Society and Great Yarmouth Canine Society. Stafford now host Birmingham & District Gundog and Terrier Club, who have moved from Ryton-on-Dunsmore to share the Stafford venue. Emily and Grace Dronsfield entered Vanitonia Spectre of Whitbraith at these partnered shows. At Stafford he collected a Puppy Group 4 from Bill Ashcroft having been sent through from the breed by Stephen Goodwin. At Birmingham's dual group show, he won BOB and BPIB under Jane Gittins Pop, followed by G1 and PG1 under Alistair Scott-Briggs. Jane Withers had been judging the Terrier group and was Alistair’s co-judge for deciding which of the two group winners received BIS and RBIS with referee Jenny Miller. Spectre was RBIS and BPIS.

Down at Great Yarmouth Hilda and Paul Monaghan won best AVNSC and a Group 4 with Kensequi Nice At Tweedsmuir JW under Amanda James.

The same weekend and Norway saw the Norwegian Spaniel Specialty held. BOB was NorCh Rainsway’s You Ain’t Seen Muffin Yet, owned by Klemetsen and Marhaug who was also Reserve Best Working Dog In Show. On Saturday in Australia at the Belgrave and District Championship Show, Aus Ch Genius Loci Kaprys Rejenta (imp Pol) picked up a Group 2 for owner Jan Irving. Jan also had intermediate group and minor puppy group winning Clumbers at the Victoria Open shows the following day.

Congratulations to all these group placing Clumbers, it is great to see Clumbers holding their own against the other Gundog breeds.

News from Clumber Spaniel Club as we approach the Championship Show this weekend. Dave Boden, Show Manager, advises, “The Show opens 10am, judging is 10.30am. Do not forget chairs as we are hoping for good weather, we may be outside, please come prepared for the weather. Lunch is Lasagne or Ploughman's. If you haven’t ordered it please do so it helps Rachel.”

And Eunice King, Secretary, asks me to share that “2024/2025 Amended Minutes have been emailed to all our Members and Overseas members please check your Spam Boxes if you haven’t received any contact me please [email protected]. Those Members with no internet have been posted Monday 28th September.”

I hope all those going to the Club show have a great time.

James Taylor
[email protected]

For those who need to share the email subscription link, the link is

Clumber Spaniel weekly news based in the UK